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Security tips

IT Security is relatively easy to implement from a user perspective. Following the tips below should be able to help you in day-to-day use of your computer as well as ensuring what you do is secure.

Home and Broadband Tips

Broadband Internet access can increase computer security risks. If you have broadband or are thinking of installing it, visit this link to discover how to secure your dial-up and broadband computer at home.

Windows Logins

If you use Windows 2000 or XP, make sure that you create a user account and use that for your day-to-day use instead of the administrator account which should only be used when administering the machine.

Personal Information and the Internet

Be very careful as to who you disclose personal information to on the Internet. Always make sure that if you are sending information, you send it to a trusted source and that the information is encrypted (e.g. a website starts with https://)

Virus Checking

Make sure Sophos anti-virus software is installed on your computer to help protect against viruses and other forms of malicious software. The how to avoid viruses page also includes tips on how to avoid getting viruses.

Update your computer software

Find out how to use the Windows update service after each new computer installation.

Physically secure your computers

Thieves are on campus. If you have a laptop/portable computer it is extremely important to install a cable-based lock such as a kensington lock so that it can't be easily swiped from your desk. You may even want to lockdown your desktop computers.

Backup your work

If your computer crashes or your notebook is stolen, you could lose precious files. The easiest way to protect important work is save your files on the Monash network drives.

Also, by saving your work in progress every 15 minutes, you can reduce the amount of information that needs to be keyed in again in the event of a computer crash.

Vist this link for detailed instructions on backing up your work at home.

Use Secure Shell instead of telnet

Do you use telnet to login to remote machines? ITS recommends the use of Secure Shell instead to encrypt the session so that your network connection can't be seen by others. For Windows users, Putty is recommended.

Choose good passwords

The easiest way to choose a good password is to think of a sentence. Then, use the first letter of every word in that sentence to make up your password! E.g. "I like good passwords as they keep me secure!" would be : ilgpatkms! Throw in a random piece of punctuation in your passwords to make them even less likely to be guessed. Information on choosing good passwords.

Never execute programs/files that have been sent to you via email

You should never execute programs/files that have been sent to you via email unless you know exactly what they are. Even if you know who they are from, they still may be malicious programs that have been self replicated and mailed to you because you were in your colleague's address book. For more vist safe email handling.

Away from your computer yet still logged in?

Install a screen saver and use the password option to prevent unauthorised access to your computer. How to install a screensaver on a windows system